On behalf of DreamWorks Animation, I’m happy to share the following statements from the writer/directors of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON with regard to this morning’s Golden Globe nomination news.

"I woke up this morning to the news that ‘Dragon’ was nominated for a Golden Globe. Whoo hoo! (I really did make a Whoo-hoo noise when I heard). First, I have to congratulate all of our artists that made this film. Everything about this movie was a bold departure in every aspect, and it is wonderful that it is being recognized. Second, I think I will have another cup of coffee to celebrate. This time, extra sugar!" -Chris Sanders, Writer/Director, "How to Train Your Dragon"

"It has been an amazing year for animation. The bar has been raised on every level, from smaller indy productions to big studio releases. I'm proud of our industry as a whole for its inspired, brave, and innovative work - and I speak for the entire HTTYD crew in saying that we're incredibly honored to be included in the group that represents the best of such a ground-breaking year. Thanks to HFPA for the acknowledgement and good luck to all of the nominees."- Dean DeBlois, Writer/Director, "How to Train Your Dragon"

In touting his Golden Globe nomination for HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, director Chris Sanders told AWN that he is most excited about the fact that "people have been treating it like a movie. Animators or not, people are talking about it in terms of the lighting and the acting, which is really thrilling because animation has come into its own."

Sanders emphasized the importance of lighting as well on DRAGON (in consultation with acclaimed cinematographer Roger Deakins, who has also helped out on Sanders' latest, THE CROODS).

"It was lit interactively, which means that Roger Deakins and our visual guys would virtually walk onto our set and light it as though they were walking onto any other real set. In yet another aspect, you could say that this has been treated much more like a live-action film… I will speak for Dean [DeBlois] and myself: We can leave more to the acting and less to the dialog in a lot of our scenes now because when you get together with the animators, you can ask for something that is obscure or subtle out of a moment -- and there's a lot of that going on in DRAGON."